A/N- okay sorry it's been so long between updates. I have the next chapter done, I'll put it up in a little while, this chapter is a lot of fluff but as a maryan fan,I say we need it! Btw, thank you to the reviewers, it's basically the reason I update :)

It was prom night. Ryan hated having to wear a suit. After all this time, he still hated having to wear them. And he hated what this meant for him and Marissa. This would be one of their last Newport events as a couple. It was just going to be so depressing.

Over the past few weeks, everything had started to be "the last time" that they had done anything. It was like they were both waiting for the day when it would be over. Neither had talked about it though, neither wanted it to happen. Ryan still didn't know what was going to happen when she left. Would they end it completely? Leave it open-ended? Stay committed? He really didn't know and he definitely didn't want to talk about it. He was sure it would practically kill him to lose her. She had made Newport home, just as much as the Cohen's had.

He wished things were different but of course they were not. He adjusted his tie and turned to check for Marissa's corsage. It was where he had left it. He took a deep breath, took one last look at the mirror and left the poolhouse to go find Marissa.

"Sum! Oh my god. This is our prom!" Marissa shrieked at Summer as she fixed her makeup in the mirror. "Can you believe it? I mean, how long have we known each other and tonight, it's all… well we're moving on."

"Don't cry Coop! I just got my face perfect and if you make me cry…" Summer let the threat linger.

Marissa turned back to the mirror and stared at herself. She sighed. Tonight was going to be completely bittersweet. It would be perfect. And yet she would be leaving it all behind. But that's why she had to enjoy everything. She had to have the most fun possible. She knew that tomorrow, she would have to face Ryan and she would have to say goodbye. She knew this. And she also knew Ryan did not. That was another reason it hurt. She straightened her shoulders in the mirror.

"Coop, Ryan is going to die when he sees you." Summer admired her from behind.

"So's Seth. He's going to at least pass out. And need water. It'll be fun watching him fumble for words."

Marissa got everything set in her purse and turned to the door as she heard a knock. Kirsten's head poked in.

"Hey guys, just letting you know that the boys are downstairs waiting, whenever you're ready."

"K, we'll be down in a few seconds, thanks." Marissa responded. She knew that they wouldn't be but it felt wrong to say they would be another 10 minutes.

"Right. I'll get the camera out and occupy the guys for a bit then." Kirsten smiled and closed the door.

"She's too smart for that. And to think, she never had a daughter." Summer observed.

"Yes well. I mean…Seth?" Marissa questioned.

"True. Anyway, remember back in the seventh grad when we promised to get ready together for prom, we also said that we would swear to each other friends for life again."

"Yeah. I remember. Friends for life Sum, just cuz I'll be gone for a little bit, doesn't mean the distance ends us. You know that right?" She asked as she hugged Summer.

"Of course. What about you and Ryan, same goes?"

"Um, actually. I don't think so."

"What? He's not going to wait for you?"

"Well it's not that," Marissa tried to usher Summer out the door but Summer sat on the bed, as if demanding details. "Fine. It's just that I'm not going to ask him to. It's not fair. Don't give me that look."

"What? The 'you're being an idiot' look? Well I can't help that, because you are. Coop, that guy would stand in hell for you, waiting for eternity, and that's exactly the reason why he shouldn't have to. And besides, you leaving would be hell for us both anyway. You have to ask him about the possibility."

"Look, can we please just have the best night ever and deal with whatever comes, tomorrow? Please Sum."

Summer got up and hugged Marissa again. "Sure, now let's go make our guys lose their minds."

"I don't get it." Sandy stood staring.

"Dad. It's a digital camera, honestly." Seth massaged his temple.

"Guys do we really need pictures though?" Ryan inquired.

"Dude, that's like asking if Luke needed R2D2… he was great just to have. Personally I'm not a—Holy mother of Moses and all that is good in this world." Seth's head whipped to the stairs.

Ryan turned, since his back was to the stairs and his heart just stopped. Marissa stood before him in a red dress that made her look absolutely gorgeous. She walked down the remaining steps, walked up to him and kissed him fully on the mouth. Ryan's hands moved to her hips and he smiled into the kiss as he felt Marissa do the same. Just at that moment, the flash went off and they both turned to Sandy.

"Oh. Oops?" He said and smiled goofily. Ryan and Marissa both returned the smile and then grinned at each other.

"Wow. You look…"

"You too."

They stood staring at each other for a few moments before Kirsten and Sandy started to position them for pictures. After a few minutes, they were on their way out to the limo.

"Well Coop. I always knew we'd share a limo. Or at least I hoped we would at the time." Summer smiled across the seat at Marissa and Ryan, they looked so cute holding each other's hands. "Tonight is going to own!"

"Summer, you did not just say own."

"Shut up Cohen." And the two of them started to bicker, leaving Ryan and Marissa to talk to each other.

"I'm glad this year we get to be together from the start to the beginning. None of this 'just in time' crap." Marissa said.

"Yeah. I know. What did you even mean? I was just in time to dance? Before it ended? It never was really clear to me, I just kind of was happy to see you and pretended I knew."

"Oh, well I had nearly lost faith in you… us. But you showed up and it was like, yes, this will work. He's here. He cares. He wants this. That's all."

"Oh. Well, I mean, of course." Ryan smiled. "You aren't going to make me dance too much tonight are you? It's not my favourite activity. It's been established I'd rather watch you dance."

"Oh, well I could always find some other randoms who might want to dance with me."

"That, will not be happening." Ryan wrapped an arm around Marissa's shoulders and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Tonight, you and me. Forever." He whispered into her ear. She smiled and felt the pain ease into her heart. This night was going to be one that she'd always remember and she hoped it would be with happiness and not sadness.

"Okay. I love the theme, the whole Fly Me to the Moon vibe, it works for me. Our future is in the stars, I get it. Why are there anime characters on the wall?" Marissa asked. She turned, "Seth?"

"It was not my fault, they asked for suggestions because they heard I could draw, I simply showed them art that interested me and I…"

"Nevermind. Sorry I asked. Where's Ryan?"

"Oh well he went to the bathroom like an hour ago, so I don't know. He's around." Seth shrugged and turned back to tell Summer more about the anime designs.

Marissa walked off in search of Ryan, she found him staring out a window. "Hey." She said, placing her arms around him and putting one of her hands directly over his heart. "Missed you."

Ryan looked up as she touched him. The words she said tore his insides apart. "Not yet you don't. I'm sorry, I take that back, tonight is ours, lets have it." All or Nothing by O-Town started and he smiled. He grabbed her hand and led her out onto the floor.

They were dancing for a few minutes when they saw Summer and Seth walk up to the deejay. Marissa's head was resting on Ryan's shoulder as they danced to Mariah Carey's We Belong Together. After a pause, the deejay announced, "This one goes out to a special couple, their special song, Forever Young. The Fab Four forever." Ryan and Marissa smiled at each other and danced as if they were the only two people left in the world.

"Wow, I think you've danced for like, a straight hour." Marissa said a little while later.

"Hm." Was all that Ryan said in response.

"Tonight's been great. I'm glad I had it with you." Marissa took a deep breath. She leaned closer to him. "Why don't we get out of here though? I know this guy that has a poolhouse to himself, a brother out of the house, and parents who think the guy's gonna be gone for a long time."

"But this is prom, don't you want to spend time with all these people? You'll never see half of them again." Ryan reminded her.

"Well, the important ones I will, and besides, you're most important. I want us to have a special part of this night. I gave these people part of the best night of my life. I want to give the rest to you."

Touched, Ryan just nodded and grabbed her hand as she picked up her purse. "We'll leave the limo for Seth and Summer okay?"

"Yeah, I want to walk. I want us to do everything possible."

Ryan led them out of the door and down the stairs. It started to lightly drizzle and he smiled up into it. "Wow. It never rains and on our prom night, it decides to? Must have gotten wind of the underlying current."

"Well whatever current it has, I love rain."

"Here, take my jacket. Please." He put it over her shoulders. Marissa didn't mind because it made her warmer and plus it gave her the chance to see Ryan getting wet in a white shirt.

They walked in the rain, holding hands for about ten minutes and then it started to become a downpour. "Why are we doing this?" Ryan turned to Marissa suddenly.

"What? You wanted to leave the limo!" Marissa responded.

"No, I mean this. We're avoiding this giant issue but it's all either of us is thinking about and we both know it." Ryan stopped walking and grabbed her arms.

"I just want tonight. Give me tonight please." Marissa shook free and turned away.

"I just can't. I have to tell you. When I got here 3 years ago, I never thought I'd even be close to where I am now. Who knows what's coming? I couldn't tell you. I don't know. It's funny like that. No matter what I forecast to happen in the future it will never be even close to true. Do you think that theory would work if I predicted never seeing you again? It doesn't matter. Either way. My point is, I never could have predicted having you in my life over the past 3 years because nothing good ever really happened to me. But you have. And for that. Thanks."

Marissa pulled him close to her. Their wets bodies left nothing to the imagination. They held onto each other for what seemed like forever. "No. Thank you."

Ryan smiled back at her as they continued the last portion of the trip to the poolhouse. The poolhouse was dark except for the reflection of lights coming from downstairs that the Cohen's had left on.

Ryan opened the door and walked over to light a candle. He turned in time to see Marissa slip his jacket off. She then walked slowly to him. She turned seductively, looked back over her shoulder and said "I just can't seem to get out of this zipper on my own… care to help?" Ryan grinned wickedly as he slowly lowered the dress to the floor. Next he massaged her shoulders gently. He noticed they were both starting to shiver so he stopped and they both laughed.

"Okay so maybe it's not perfect but…"

"It's us. Nothing's ever perfect." Marissa said simply. Ryan smiled.

"Yeah. Exactly." He pulled her closer so they could get hot off each other's body heat. "Oh wait. He turned and put the Model Home Mix she had remade him into the CD player and turned it on. Smiling, she reached for him, completely naked. He backed her into the bed, took a small jump, landed on the bed beside her and prepared himself for a night they would both alwayyyyyyyys remember.

Read it and if you could, a review is awesome.